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Detwiler dealing with back stiffness, could miss next start (with lineups)

Ross Detwiler is dealing with a stiff lower back, manager Davey Johnson said this morning, an injury that could cause the left-hander to miss his next start in the Nats' rotation.

Detwiler went five innings in last night's 6-4 win over the Mets, throwing 98 pitches in that time. He had landed on the DL with a right oblique/back issue in mid-May, and needed to miss nearly a month because of that ailment, but this issue is on the left side of Detwiler's back.

"It's a different side. It's not the same side as the last oblique," Johnson said. "So we'll have to see. Hopefully they can do their magic in that training room and he'll be able to do his side (session). If he can't do his side, there's a chance he could miss a start."

If Detwiler does indeed need to miss a start, Johnson says he'll fill that turn in-house, going with Ross Ohlendorf, who is currently serving as a long reliever in the Nationals' bullpen. Ohlendorf pitched two innings last night and the Nats will need to play things carefully with him over the next few days in case he is needed to get the start Wednesday against the Brewers.

That played a factor in the Nats deciding to call up right-handed reliever Erik Davis and option outfielder Jeff Kobernus today. The extra arm gives Johnson some flexibility both today with Taylor Jordan making his major league debut, and also over the next couple days.

"The bullpen with the 11-inning game (on Thursday), rookie pitcher (starting today), I wanted to stay off some guys," Johnson said. "I wanted to have that ability. And really, there's nobody in the lineup I pinch-hit for, really. Maybe something in left field with Bernadina and a left-right matchup. Just wanted to make sure I had enough pitching."

Davis got word after midnight last night that he was getting recalled by the Nats and made the short trip from Syracuse to New York for today's game. The right-hander said he worked on his curveball a lot after being optioned by the Nats a little more than two weeks ago and feels a bit more comfortable with the pitch now.

With Jordan getting the ball today, Johnson decided to have Jhonatan Solano catch Thursday's game and then use the more experienced Kurt Suzuki today for the day game after a night game. Suzuki will be a little better suited to guide Jordan through his debut, Johnson feels.

Dillon Gee gets the ball for the Mets today. The right-hander has dominated the Nats in two starts this season, allowing just one earned run over 12 2/3 innings.